Justice Donald Marden sentenced Chepke to eight years in prison with all but 2 1/2 years suspended and three years probation, according to Kennebec County District Attorney Maeghan Maloney. Chepke was also sentenced to six months in jail for the theft charge, but it will be served concurrently with the robbery charge.

“She pointed what looked like a handgun at him,” said Maloney. “She demanded that he open the register, and he did. He gave her 20s and 10s, and she reached over and started grabbing the fives.”

The event was captured on the store’s surveillance camera, she said.

A man who had given Chepke a ride after the robbery called police after seeing her photo in the media, Maloney said. An arrest warrant was requested May 10.

Chepke was released on bail May 29 but arrested June 1 for operating under the influence in Augusta. She was sentenced to seven days in jail for that charge but has been kept in Kennebec County Jail since.

Maloney said drugs were Chepke’s motivation for robbing the store.

“I’m pleased that the judge took this case so seriously and ordered a state prison sentence,” she added.

A Class A armed robbery charge was not sought against Chepke because the gun used in the robbery was never found and couldn’t be verified that it was a working firearm, Maloney explained.

Approximately $200 was stolen from the Circle K during the robbery.

Chepke was indicted on the robbery and theft charges in June.

She faced up to 10 years in prison on the Class B charge and a maximum fine of $20,000.